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Abstract:

Minimal thermal conductance (MTC) has been used as a measure of the minimal rate heat loss from endotherms at low temperatures. An analysis of previously published data led to the suggestion of diurnal variation in MTC. However, the use of MTC has been debated on the grounds that it results from an incorrect and overly simplistic representation of the thermal exchange of small mammals. In this report, MTC is developed as a parameter in a linear, lumped-parameter model of the energy exchange of a small mammal at low ambient temperatures in a metabolism measurement chamber.

Description:

Submitted to the faculty of the Graduate School in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree Doctor of Philosophy